Tongass National Forest

Ecosystem Services Updates

Ecosystem Services are those services and benefits provided by healthy ecosystems. Depending on the particular definition used, ecosystem services can include recreation-related services such as hunting and fishing, watershed services, biological diversity, improved air quality, carbon sequestration, and others. Ecosystem services were not specifically addressed in the current 1997 Forest Plan. There is controversy over our ability to accurately quantify ecosystem services, and this was addressed in the Forest Plan Amendment EIS process. Consultation on this issue was conducted with the Pacific Northwest Research Station scientists.

Work Product(s): The product for this item was appropriate edits to the 1997 Forest Plan.

Science Consistency: Science consistency reviews by the Pacific Northwest Research Station were conducted for this work item.